Joseph martena



J. MARTENA.

BOMB 0R SHELL. APPucATloN min mula, ma.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

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BOMB 0R SHELL.

APPLICATION msn :uw la. 191e.

TT URNE V8 WITNESSES #fm- UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

JOSEPH MARTENA, OF NEW YORK, N'. Y.

BOMB 0R SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 26, 1919.

Application led July 13, 1918. Serial No. 244,801.

the like and has for an object the provision of an improved constructionwhich may be used as an aerial torpedo', lmine tlirower shell, or depthbomb to explode either on contact with a hard substance or at a givenpoint in the water.

Another object in view is to provide a torpedo or shell which may be setto explode as it enter-s the water, or set to explode as it rises from aconsiderable depth toward the surface.

A still further object of the invention 1s to provide a shell whichwillbe perfectly safe until the various parts have been set so thatrough handling or abuse of the same will-not endanger any ones life.

Another object is to provide an improved arrangement which will causethe shell to sink in case it should for any reason fail to explode afterentering a given body of water.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a shell or torpedodisclosing an embodiment of the invention, the lower part being brokenaway.

Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 1 on line 22. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through Fig. l on line 3 3.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View through a car tridge and associate partsshown in. Fig. 3, the -same being taken on line 4 4 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 lis a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 disclosing a slightlyinodiied form of the invention wherein electricity is used.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 5 on line 6 6.

Fig. 7 is a detail fragmentary view of a pair of switching leversembodying certain features of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary topl plan view of an adjusting screw embodyingcertain features of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings bynumerals 1 indicates a casinghaving an internallythreaded projecting end 2 anda bottom 3. `A casing 4is threaded into the extension 2 so as to form a continuation thereof,said casing tapering to a point so as to present the'usual form of shellcasing. This ca sing contains a high explosive 5 of any desiredmaterial, as for instance picric acid and also a detonater 6 of-anydesired v kind, as for instance mercury fulminate, or 1f desired acontact detonater 7 may be provided as shown in Fig. 5. A safety orprotecting capis provided for the detonator 7 which is, of course,removed before the shellis used. In forming the detonator 6 shown inFig. 1' same is provided with a wire mesh' socket 8 for receiving thewire mesh plug 9, which plug contains an end section of the fuse 10,which fuse extends through pipe 11 to the cartridge 12 near the upperpart of casing 1. By this construction and arrangeinent' wheneverthecartridge 12 is operated so as to ignite the fuse the fire will passdownwardly into the casing 9 and from thence into thedetonator 6whereupon the explosive 5 will be exploded.

' In 3 and 4 will be seen details of th'e cartridge 12, which cartridge12 is provided with a casing 13 having a turned over end 14 fitting intoan annular socket 15. An end plate 16 is connected in any suitablemanner with the casing 13, .said

,end member being provided with an aper ture 17 normally covered by thepointer 18 which is rigidly secured to the support 19. When it isrotatably mounted on the support 19 it must be moved to one side so asto uncover opening' 17 immediately before the shell is dropped or used.When rigidly connected with the support 19, it isv rotated when the tube20,. is rotated, said tube having a square extension 21 fitting into asquare socket 22 of the-rod 23l carrying the contact shoe 24. The tube20 is intended to receive the water passing through opening 17 after theshell has been submerged and direct the water through vthe dischargeopening 25 into the interior of the casing 13. When sufficient water inthe casing 13 h-as been provided for reaching the chemical 26, which maybe any desired material, as for instance sodium, said chemical willproduce a blaze for igniting the fuse 10. Normally the rotatable shell27 is in the way and will prevent the blaze from passing through thechemical 26 to the fuse 10 as illustrated in Fig. 3, but when shoe 24has been moved and shaft 23 rotated movement will be transmitted to thetube 20 through extension 21 and the rotatable shell 27 will be rotatedso as the square extension 21 fits snugly into a square opening in saidshell. This will cause the opening 28 in shell 27 to be brought intoregister with the opening 29 in casing 13 and also in register with theopening 30 in the socket 31 which socket acts as a support for thecartridge 12, tube 11 and associate parts. When the apertures are all inregister the fuse 10 will naturally become ignited and will eventuallycause the eX- plosive matter to be exploded. A shutter 32 is slidinglymounted so as to normally shut the fuse 10 from the supporting socket-31, said shutter having an opening 33 which is brought into registerwith the fuse or the end opening of the pipe 11 by the rotatable sleeve27 engaging the projection 34 and forcing the same downwardly as shownin Fig. 4 against the action oit' spring 35 as shown in Fig. 1. It willthus be seen that when the cartridge is first placed in position shutter32 is open but the rotatable shell 27 prevents any communication betweenthe fuse and the interior of casing 13. As soon, however, as the shoe 24has been turned casing 13 will be turned to provide the proper registryand defiecting member 36 is provided for tube 20 near the bottom so asto hold the flame in the vicinity of the fuse for insuring a positiveignition thereof. It will be noted that when the shoe 24 has beenoperated the parts are in register and will remain in register until thewater has had opportunity to act on chemical 26 and produce the desiredresult.

In order to cause the shell to explode at any desired depth adjustablemeans have -been 'provided for causing the shell to explode at thedesired depth either going downwardly into the water or coming upwardlyfrom a considerable depth. The shell may be used as a bomb fromairplanes or airships of any desired kind, or lmay be used as bombsdropped from an ordinary boat, or fired from a cannon, as the device maybe set to explode at an appreciable interval of time. In fact the bombmay be dropped from any place as it is provided with a contact detonatorwhen hitting a hard surface, and provided with means for causing it to.eX lode when submerged in the Water, as or instance an ordinarydetonator. from an airplane or from some place into the water theoperator first opens the cover When the device is dropped 37 which ishinged at 38 and then'pulls on the cable 39 until the piston 40 has beenraised against the action of spring 41 until the hook and end 42 ofthe.Y 4pawl 43 is snapped into socket 44 of piston 40. The elevatedposit-ion of this structure is shown 1n Fig. 5. The pawl 43 is pivotedat 45 and by reason of the end 42 fitting into socket 44 the parts willremain in engagement until the bar 46 strikes the extension 47 of pawl43, so as to move the same against the action of spring 48. Spring 48 issufficiently strong to resist any tendency'of the end 42 leaving socket44 after the part has been positively moved by bar 46. The end 42,however, is rounded on the lower end suiiciently to cause it to move outof the way as the :piston 40 is raised whereby 1t may freely snap intoplace when coming opposlte its receiving socket. As the piston 40 israised cable 49 ,will be brought under tension and rod 50 liftedtogether with a shutter 51 which normally closes the water passageway52, this passageway being open the water will pass therein as soon asthe projectile has entered a body of water and will begin to act on thepiston 53 for raising the same, said piston being mounted in the tubularmember 54. A spring 55 resiliently resists the action of the water, saidresistance being varied by the member acting on the spring 55.The'plunge'r 56 is provided with a threaded section 58 fitting into theinternally threaded sleeve 59, which sleeve is provided with anadjusting head 60 on the upper face, said head having a pointer 61coacting with the graduations 62 shown 1n Fig. 8. By adjusting this headthe plunger 56 may be moved upwardly or downwardly and the tension ofspring 55 varied so that the projectile may be caused to explode at anydesired depth. In order to prevent the plunger 56 from rotating, pins 63are rigidly connected with the upper part of tubular member 54 andpositioned to extend into grooves 64 and 65 of the plunger 56. As thewater enters the member 54 piston 53 is raised and will move upwardlythe operating rod 6.6 which extends through an aperture 67 provided inan oset portion of the tubular member 54. The operating rod 66 is bentat 68 so as to provide a down-leg or section 69 merging into a controlbar 70 and into an upstanding rod 71 to which the bar 46 is secured andalso to which the square contact shoe 72 is secured. This shoe ispositioned as shown 1n Fig. 2 with one corner pointing downwardly so asto be short of engaging one side of the rotatable shoe 24 mounted on theend of rod 23. When the parts are arranged as sho-wn in the drawing shoe72 will move upwardly and strike against the shoe 24 and movethe same toone side, said movelOl Y ment causing a partial rotation of rod 23 andconsequently a partial rotation of the rotatable sleeve 27 in thecartridge 12 as heretofore described. The shoe 72 iscaused to traveldirectly upwardly by reason of the fact that the control bar is arrangedin a vertical slot 74 of the guide plate '775. This guide plate isprovidedwith diagonal grooves 76 and 77 merging at 78 and also merginginto groove 74. When the shell is to explode on its downward travelthrough the water the parts are arranged as shown in the drawing andshoe 24 turned as the piston 53 and associate parts, including shoe 72is elevated. When it is desired that the shell shall explode on itsupward travel a switch 79 :pivotally mounted on the guide plate 75 isoperated manually by turning head 87 and associated parts until theswitch arm 80 is moved to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2 whereuponthe control bar 70 will move into the groove 76 and from thence intogroove 77 past the spring 81 into the upper end of' groove 74 and fromthence downwardly through groove 74. This will cause the shoe 72 to moveto one side and then upwardly past the shoe 24 without contactingtherewith and then finally downwardly past said shoe in contacttherewith, said upward movement causing a proper side movement of shoe24 for rotating the rod 23 and the proper parts of the cartridge 12. Theswitch 7 9-is operated 'by having a finger 82 which extends into thebifurcated end of the arm 83 as shown in Fig. 1 and move the same fromone position to another, namely from the full line position shown inFig. 2 to the dotted line position, or in a reverse direction. Finger 82is rigidly secured to a rotatable rod 84 carried at the.

lower end by bracket 8'5, and extending through the removable upper end86 ci casing 1. The upper end of the rod 84 is provided with a head 87having a ker or other means for receiving a tool whereby the same may bemoved by the operator at any time for setting the switch 79. In order toprevent the rod 23 from moving when the shell is being handled or at thewrong time, a small bracket 88 is provided which acts as a stop forlimiting the movement of the arm 23 in one direction while the ,movablerod 89 prevents the rod 23 from `trol rod 70 has passed spring 81 (Fig.2)

and the 'bar 46 has engaged the extension 47 of pawl 43 for trip-pingthe same. When thls pawl has been tripped piston 40 will be released andspring 41 will move the same downwardly so as to expel the water fromthe chamber 96, said water passing through the passageway 97 and outthrough the opening past gate 51. This expelling of the fluid willlighten the projectile to such an extent'as to cause the same to moveupwardly through the water, and as it moves upwardly the water in thetubular member 54 will gradually pass out through the main passageway52, as long as gate 51 is open,

.and thereby allow the piston to move back toward its lowered position asullicient distance to cause the shoe 72 to move downwardly against shoe24 for causing the operation of the moving parts of the cartridge 12. Inorder to prevent a vacuum in the chamber 96, and also to provide an exitfor the conned air inv said chamber,

when shell first enters the water, an air vent 99, is provided having asmall opening 100 through which a spring 101 extends, said spring beingsecured at 102 to the casing of the vent 99 and the opposite end to aplug 103. A by-pass l104 is provided whereby when the water is irstentering the chamber 96, the conlined air will escape through the ventuntil water rises to strike against plug 103, and cause the same to beturned against the opening 100 for closing the opening and therebypreventing water entering the main part of the casing 1.

lt is of course, evident that when the device is set for explosion onthe downward travel of the shell the operation of the piston 40 is of noimportance as these parts as well as the remaining parts of the shellwill be. destroyed by the explosion. In case the shell fails to explodeon the downward travel, when pawl 43 is tripped, the shell will tend tocome to the surface the same as when it is set to explode on the upwardtravel, and

,when passing the predetermined depth will have a second chance toexplode, piston 40 pressing on rod 50 will close main gate 51, and openpipe 98 through which water will enter and sink the shell.l

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form ot' the invention will beseen in which most ot' the parts are identical with those shown in Fig.1 so that only additional reference numerals will be provided for theadditional parts, the entire arrangement covering` the same inventiveidea, but utilizing electrlc current for causing the explosion insteadof a fuse. In this form of the invention the casing 1 is provided withan upper end 86 threaded to casing 1 in a similar manner to that shownin Fig. 1 and with the adjusting rod 84 positioned near the center ofthe end, operating exactly, as that shown in Fig. 1. The shell 4 isprovided with an upper end 105 whereby a small air chamber 106 will heprovided. The detonater 108 is provided with a threaded socket forreceiving the plug 109 which is provided with a sparking device of anydesired kind for properly igniting the detonater. As shown in Fig. 5 theplug has one wire connected with the shoe 110 while the other wire 111extends through pipe 112 and branch pipe 113 and is con nected at 114 toa contact plug 115. The plug 115 is properly insulated so as not toground the wire, but when closed it is in engagement with a sleeve 116forming one ot' the posts of the electric battery 117. The opposite postof the battery 117 has a wire 11S connected thereto which wire extendsto the upper section 119 of pipe 112 through' the aperture 120 and fromsaid aperture to the stationary contact shoe 121. By this arrangementwhenever the plug 115 is closed and the shoes 110 and 121 are broughtinto contact current will be provided for the plug 109 so as to ignitethe de-tonator which may be of any suit-able kind. Normally the shoes121 and 110 are held an appreciable distance apart while plug- 115 isheld away from the sleeve 116. As the bomb enters the water piston 53 israised and power is transferred to rod 66 and down leg 69 to shoe 110whereby said shoe is elevated until brought in contact with shoe 121whereupon the circuit will be closed. As the leg 69 is raised thecontrol bar 70 is also raised and thereby releases lever 133 so that thespring 122 may move the same downwardly pivotally and at the same timemove downwardly the lever 133 to which it is slidingly pivoted as shownin Fig. 7 Lever 133 is pivotally connected with rod 139 which isslidingly supported by suitable brackets 140 which are rigidly securedto the plug 115 so that when the control bar 70 is moved upwardly. ashort distance spring 122 4will move the parts just mentioned forclosing'the circuit at plug 115 whereby the parts are in condition forproducing` a spark in plug 109 as soon as the shoes 110 and 121 come .incontact. As shown in Fig. 6 the switch plate 141 is provided similar toswitch plate 75 in the preferred structure so asl to switch the controlbar 70 for causing shoe 110 to contact on its upward or downward travelas may be determined by the one using the bomb. As this structure hasbeen heretofore described no additional description will be made.

In regard to the tubular member 54 and the adjusting parts carried inthe upper part thereof, a. guide 145 is provided formed as disclosed inFig. 5 and the plunger 142 is internally threaded for receiving anexteriorly threaded rod 143 which rod carries the controlling head 60exteriorly of the end 86. The plunger 142 is provided with lugs 144extending into ways or guide 145 positioned in the upper end of the well54 Whereby the plunger can rotate as the rod 143l is rotated foradjusting the tension of spring 55.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a shell, a casing atone end for receiving an explosive substance, a fuse for causing saidexplosive substance to explode, means -for igniting said fuse, saidmeans including a chemical capable of igniting the fuse whensuppliedwith ar quantity of water, said chemical being arranged adjacent saidfuse, a tubular member for directing water from the exterior of saidshell to said chemical, a double shutter mechanism for shutting off thewater normally from said chemical, a Contact member connected with saidshutter mechanism for moving the same to an open position, a secondcontact member engaging the first contact mechanism for operating thesame, a tubular member in communication withv the water on the exteriorof the shell, a piston arranged in said tubular member connected withsaid second mentioned contact member, and a spring for resilien-tly.resist-ing the movement of said piston whereby when the pressure ofwater against said piston overcomes said spring said contact memberswill be operated lfor causing the water to be supplied to said chemical.

2. A device of the character described comprising a shell, a casingremovably connected with said -shell for receiving an eX- plosivematerial, means for igniting said explosive material, said meansincluding a chemical, said chemical caused to operate upon supplyingwater thereto, means for directing water to said chemical as the shellenters a body of water and as the shell rises from said body of wateraccording to the position of the parts, a pointer for normally shuttingolf the water from said chemical, a tubular member extending from theex`- terior of the shell, a piston arranged in -said tu'bular memberactuated by water entering therein, a pair of contact blocks, one ofwhich acts to operate said shutter and the other of which is operated bysaid piston for actuating the first mentioned block, and manuallyoperated means for shifting the block connected with the piston so as toengage the other block on its downward travel or on its upward travel.

3. A device of the character described comprising a. shell, a casingarranged at one end of the shell, said casing being designed to receivean explosive material, a fuse connected with said explosive material, achemical arranged adjacent said fuse for igniting the same, means forturning on water to said chemical for causing the same to ignite saidfuse, said means including a pointer, a shutter normally covering saidfuse, means for operating said shutter under the action of pressure ofthe water when the device is submerged, and a manually operated memberfor setting said means to operate the shutter either on its downwardmovement or on its upward movement.

4. A device of the character described comprising a hollow shellremovably connected with said body at one end, said shell being adaptedto contain an explosive matter, a fuse in contact with said explosivematter extending to a point in said body, a chemical-arranged adjacentsaid fuse, said chemical being such that it will ignite saidfuse whensupplied with a quantity of water, a tubular member extending to theexterior of said shell for directing water to said chemical, a meansarranged at one end of said tubular member for normally shutting off thewater from said chemical, a shutter normally covering said fuse, meansactuated by the pressure of water for turning said shutters so as toexpose the fuse to the chemical, and a regulating member with a meansoperated by water pressure.

5. A device of the character described comprising a hollow body havingan opening, a casing at one end of said body for receiving an explosivesubstance, a fuse connected with said explosive substance extending intosaid body, means for igniting said fuse arranged adjacent said opening,and a covering member normally covering said opening, a tubular memberarranged in said body and extending to the exterior of the body so as topermitthe entrance of water when the device enters a body of water,means operated byl the pressure of water entering said tubular memberfor moving said covering member from said opening whereby water willenter and cause said i iting means to ignite said `fuse, and a roc ablemanually operated sleeve for shiftin the position of said means so as tocause t e same to move said covering member on its upward travel or onits downward travel.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hollow body, acasing at one end of said body for receiving ex losivematerial, a fuseconnected with sai explosive material, igniting means for igniting saidfuse, a shutter normally arranged .between said fuse and said ignitingmeans, means including a contact block for operating said shutter, apiston for moving said block 1n one direction, means for directing waterfrom the exterior of said casing to said npiston for operating the same,a projection extending from said block, a spring pressed piston formoving said projection so as to move the block in the op osite directionand a shifting member for s ifting the position of said block so thatthe same will operate said mechanism on its downward travel or on itsupward travel.

7. 'An explosive shell or torpedo of the character described comprisinga hollow body, a casing at one end of said body for receiving anexplosive material, a fuse connected with said explosive materialextending into said body, igniting means for igniting said fuse, ashutterlnormally positioned between -said fuse and said igniting means,a member for moving said shutter away from between said fuse and saidigniting means, a water operated piston for moving said member, atubular chamber arranged adjacent said piston said chamber having acommunication with the exterior of the body, a projection extending fromsaid water operated piston to a position within said chamber, a springpressed piston in said chamber designed to expel the water in saidchamber and move said projection so as to shift the position of saidmember, a catch -for normally holding the piston in said chamber againstoperation, an arm for releasing said catch, said arm being connectedwith the water operated piston, and a manually operated shiftingmechanism for causing said member to operate when actuated by said wateroperated piston, or to operate when actuated by said projection.

8. A bomb comprising a casing containing an explosive matter, a shell, afuse arranged in said shell provided with a projection tting into saidcasing, a cartridge movably positioned in said shell supplied with meansfor igniting said fuse, a shutter normally arranged between said fuseand the means igniting the fuse, means for moving said shutter frombetween the fuse and the igniting means, and a guide for normallypreventing the water Ifrom coming into contact with said igniting means.

9. A bomb comprising a shell containing explosive material and adetonator, a casing removably connected with said shell, a fuse in saidcasing having an extension roject-.'

has been applied thereto, said cartridge havin the gate, a shaft forrotating said sleeve ing an opening in the end for receiving Water tobring same in register with the gate and when the bomb is submerged, asliding gate said fuse, lreans for rotating said gate, and for normallypreventing the flame from igmeans operated by Water entering said shell10 5 niting said fuse, a rotatable sleeve having an for actuating saidlast mentioned means.

opening adapted to register with the opening JOSEPH MARTENA.

